against Alvinzi, who was at the head of a numerous army, and had obtained some fucceffes over the French, which had revived the hopes of the Auftrians, and their adherents. But the battle of Arcola, wherein these were completely defeated, and the fubfequent advantages gained by the French, made, at laft, fuch an impreffion on the court of Rome, that, dreading to wait any longer for more fortunate events, the cardinal was directed to return an answer. This came to pafs after the lapfe of fix weeks from the receipt of the general's letter. The motive for this delay being obvious, it was neceffary to qualify it, fo as to foften his difpleasure at an anfwer being fo long deferred. The cardinal laid before the general the anxiety of the pope to remedy the diforders that had fo long distracted France, and the facrifices he had confented to make of every worldly confideration, for the fake of reftoring a good understanding between France and the Roman fee. He complained that, not fatisfied with thefe conceffions, the French government, elated with the, fuccefs of its arms, had made requifitions incompatible with the dictates of his confcience, and fubverfive of all Chriftian and moral principles. Grieved at fuch intoferable demands, he had implored the affiftance of heaven, to direct him how to act in fo difficult a fituation. Doubtlefs, faid the cardinal, he was infpired, on this occafion, by that holy spirit which had animated the primitive martyrs in the caufe for which they fuffered. Having laboured, in vain, to bring the directory to a more equitable way of thinking, he thought it neceffary to refift them by open force. He

admonished the general to reflect, that the death which awaited men in battle was the commencement of eternal life and happiness to the righteous, and of everlasting, mifery to the wicked. Armed with this conviction, faid the cardinal, we fhall oppofe you with that confidence in the divine aid, which a juft caufe infpires. He reminded him that he was not invincible, and that though infidels, and pretended philofophers, ridiculed the idea of affiftance from heaven, yet, if Providence were pleafed to interpofe, the French would contend in vain

against the power of the Almighty. He concluded, by telling the general, that if the French were de-, firous of peace, the Roman fee defired it ftill more, and was willing to fubfcribe to any terms, confcientious and equitable, in order to obtain it.

Such was the purport of this remarkable letter, which, to speak truth, was written at a time, when the reafonings it contained were little calculated to influence the proceedings of fuch a people as the French. Nor did the court of Vienna itself teftify much willingnefs to be connected with a power whofe co-operations were likely to prove fo feeble. But the folicitations of the court of Rome were fo preffing, that the Imperial minifters, unwilling wholly to abandon the holy fee to the control of France, confented to join a body of troops to those that were now raifing in every part of the papal dominions.

In this dereliction of the pope, the most fervent of his former adherents feemed, at this period, to agree without reluctance. So efficacious was either the dread, or the influence, of France over the

The Auftrians had now pofted themselves in force at Lavis, intending to ftop the progrefs of the French, by occupying the other fide of the river Lavifio; but this intention was fruftrated, by the rapid advance of Joubert, who forced them from this important pofition, after fuftaining a great lofs of their best troops, and in particular of a felect corps of Hungarians. Here the divifion of Joubert was reinforced by that. of Maffena, who had been equally fuccefsful; and, in his purfuit of the Auftrians, after the action at Carpanadolo, had taken feveral places of ftrength, and driven them to the other fide of the Pradas, after feizing a large part of their baggage.

The Imperial armies were now. totally expelled from Italy, and nothing remained to the emperor but the city of Mantua, which was fo clofely blockaded, and fo vigoroufly preffed, that no fupplies of provifions, or of men, could enter. The garrifon, despairing of all relief, began to think it time to furrender, weakened by the great flaughter it had fuffered in fo many fallies, and by a contagious diftemper, that committed great ravages in the city. The Auftrians agreed, at length, to a capitulation, upon the fecond day of February. The terms were as honourable as the defence had been brave. The French general fhewed a laudable propenfity to pay due regard to the merit of his rival, who, notwithstanding his late ill fuccefs, was defervedly efteemed a warrior of the most diftinguished rank. He granted him an efcort of two hundred horfe and feven hundred foot, whom he was permitted to felect, together with thirty pieces of artillery: the gene

rals, and principal officers under him, were allowed, in like manner, to accompany him on their parole; the reft of the garrifon remained prifoners of war.

The northern parts of the papal territories were already in the poffeffion of the French, and it was expected that as foon as Buonaparte was free from inquietude, on account of the Auftrian armies ftil hovering on the borders of Germany, and had fecured the capture of Mantua, he would immediately proceed to Rome itself, and dictate the conditions of a peace.

The pope, in the mean time, relied upon the exertions of the emperor, and had determined to wait the iffue of the operations of his army, under Alvinzi, firmly hoping that it would be more fuccefsful than thofe that had preceded it. Buonaparte was fincerely defirous of a pacification with the head of the Romish church, a refpectful treatment of whom would, he was confcious, be highly gratifying to all the Roman catholic ftates and people. Prompted by these motives, and intirely averfe at coercive measures, he wrote a letter to cardinal Mattæi, prime minifter to his holinefs, requefting him to prevail on the pope to recommence pacific negociations, in order to prevent the march of the French armies into his territories, and to reprefent to him the inutility of arming his fubjects against men who had overcome fo many formidable enemies, and whom his own people were wholly incapable to refift.

This letter was dated the twentyfixth of October, 1796. Buonaparte was then preparing to march

againft

against Alvinzi, who was at the head of a numerous army, and had obtained fome fucceffes over the French, which had revived the hopes of the Auftrians, and their adherents. But the battle of Arcola, wherein these were completely defeated, and the fubfequent advantages gained by the French, made, at laft, fuch an impreffion on the court of Rome, that, dreading to wait any longer for more fortunate events, the cardinal was directed to return an answer. This came to pafs after the lapfe of fix weeks from the receipt of the general's letter. The motive for this delay being obvious, it was neceffary to qualify it, fo as to foften his difpleasure at an anfwer being fo long deferred. The cardinal laid before the general the anxiety of the pope to remedy the diforders that had fo long diftracted France, and the facrifices he had confented to make of every worldly confideration, for the fake of reftoring a good understanding between France and the Roman fee. He complained that, not fatisfied with thefe conceffions, the French government, elated with the, fuccefs of its arms, had made requifitions incompatible with the dictates of his confcience, and fubverfive of all Chriftian and moral principles. Grieved at fuch intoferable demands, he had implored the affiftance of heaven, to direct him how to act in fo difficult a fituation. Doubtlefs, faid the cardinal, he was infpired, on this occafion, by that holy spirit which had animated the primitive martyrs in the caufe for which they fuffered. Having laboured, in vain, to bring the directory to a more equitable way of thinking, he thought it neceflary to refift them by open force. He

admonished the general to reflect, that the death which awaited men in battle was the commencement of eternal life and happiness to the righteous, and of everlafting, mifery to the wicked. Armed with this conviction, faid the cardinal, we fhall oppofe you with that confidence in the divine aid, which a juft caufe infpires. He reminded him that he was not invincible, and that though infidels, and pretended philofophers, ridiculed the idea of affiftance from heaven, yet, if Providence were pleafed to interpofe, the French would contend in vain against the power of the Almighty. He concluded, by telling the general, that if the French were de-, firous of peace, the Roman fee defired it ftill more, and was willing to fubfcribe to any terms, confcientious and equitable, in order to obtain it.

Such was the purport of this remarkable letter, which, to fpeak truth, was written at a time, when the reafonings it contained were little calculated to influence the proceedings of fuch a people as the French. Nor did the court of Vienna itself teftify much willingnefs to be connected with a power whofe co-operations were likely to prove fo feeble. But the folicitations of the court of Rome were fo preffing, that the Imperial minifters, unwilling wholly to abandon the holy fee to the control of France, confented to join a body of troops to thofe that were now raifing in every part of the papal dominions.

In this dereliction of the pope, the moft fervent of his former adherents feemed, at this period, to agree without reluctance. So efficacious was either the dread, or the influence, of France over the

The Auftrians had now pofted themselves in force at Lavis, intending to ftop the progrefs of the French, by occupying the other fide of the river Lavifio; but this intention was frustrated, by the rapid advance of Joubert, who forced them from this important pofition, after fuftaining a great lofs of their best troops, and in particular of a felect corps of Hungarians. Here the divifion of Joubert was reinforced by that. of Maffena, who had been equally fuccefsful; and, in his purfuit of the Auftrians, after the action at Carpanadolo, had taken several places of ftrength, and driven them to the other fide of the Pradas, after feizing a large part of their baggage.

The Imperial armies were now. totally expelled from Italy, and nothing remained to the emperor but the city of Mantua, which was fo clofely blockaded, and fo vigoroufly preffed, that no fupplies of provifions, or of men, could enter. The garrifon, defpairing of all relief, began to think it time to furrender, weakened by the great flaughter it had fuffered in fo many fallies, and by a contagious diftemper, that committed great ravages in the city. The Auftrians agreed, at length, to a capitulation, upon the fecond day of February. The terms were as honourable as the defence had been brave. The French general fhewed a laudable propen fity to pay due regard to the merit of his rival, who, notwithstanding his late ill fuccefs, was defervedly efteemed a warrior of the moft diftinguished rank. He granted him an efcort of two hundred horfe and feven hundred foot, whom he was permitted to felect, together with thirty pieces of artillery: the gene

rals, and principal officers under him, were allowed, in like manner, to accompany him on their parole; the reft of the garrifon remained prifoners of war.

The northern parts of the papal territories were already in the poffeffion of the French, and it was expected that as foon as Buonaparte was free from inquietude, on account of the Auftrian armies ftill hovering on the borders of Germany, and had fecured the capture of Mantua, he would immediately proceed to Rome itself, and dictate the conditions of a peace.

The pope, in the mean time, relied upon the exertions of the emperor, and had determined to wait the iffue of the operations of his army, under Alvinzi, firmly hoping that it would be more fuccefsful than those that had preceded it. Buonaparte' was fincerely defirous of a pacification with the head of the Romish church, a refpectful treatment of whom would, he was confcious, be highly gratifying to all the Roman catholic ftates and people. Prompted by thefe motives, and intirely averfe at coercive measures, he wrote a letter to cardinal Mattæi, prime minifter to his holiness, requesting him to prevail on the pope to recommence pacific negociations, in order to prevent the march of the French armies into his territories, and to reprefent to him the inutility of arming his fubjects against men who had overcome fo many formidable enemies, and whom his own people were wholly incapable to refift.

This letter was dated the twentyfixth of October, 1796. Buonaparte was then preparing to march

against

against Alvinzi, who was at the head of a numerous army, and had obtained fome fucceffes over the French, which had revived the hopes of the Auftrians, and their adherents. But the battle of Arcola, wherein these were completely defeated, and the fubfequent advantages gained by the French, made, at laft, fuch an impreffion on the court of Rome, that, dreading to wait any longer for more fortunate events, the cardinal was directed to return an answer. This came to pafs after the lapfe of fix weeks from the receipt of the general's letter. The motive for this delay being obvious, it was neceffary to qualify it, fo as to foften his difpleafure at an anfwer being fo long deferred. The cardinal laid before the general the anxiety of the pope to remedy the diforders that had fo long diftracted France, and the facrifices he had confented to make of every worldly confideration, for the fake of reftoring a good understanding between France and the Roman fee. He complained that, not fatisfied with these conceffions, the French government, elated with the, fuccefs of its arms, had made requifitions incompatible with the dictates of his confcience, and fubverfive of all Chriftian and moral principles. Grieved at fuch intoferable demands, he had implored the affiftance of heaven, to direct him how to act in fo difficult a fituation. Doubtlefs, faid the cardinal, he was infpired, on this occafion, by that holy spirit which had animated the primitive martyrs in the caufe for which they fuffered. Having laboured, in vain, to bring the directory to a more equitable way of thinking, he thought it neceffary to refift them by open force. He

admonished the general to reflect, that the death which awaited men in battle was the commencement of eternal life and happiness to the righteous, and of everlasting mifery to the wicked. Armed with this conviction, faid the cardinal, we fhall oppofe you with that confidence in the divine aid, which a juft caufe infpires. He reminded him that he was not invincible, and that though infidels, and pretended philofophers, ridiculed the idea of affiftance from heaven, yet, if Providence were pleafed to interpofe, the French would contend in vain againft the power of the Almighty. He concluded, by telling the general, that if the French were de-, firous of peace, the Roman fee defired it ftill more, and was willing to fubfcribe to any terms, confcientious and equitable, in order to obtain it.

Such was the purport of this remarkable letter, which, to speak truth, was written at a time, when the reafonings it contained were little calculated to influence the proceedings of fuch a people as the French. Nor did the court of Vienna itself teftify much willingnefs to be connected with a power whofe co-operations were likely to prove fo feeble. But the folicitations of the court of Rome were fo preffing, that the Imperial minifters, unwilling wholly to abandon the holy fee to the control of France, confented to join a body of troops to thofe that were now raifing in every part of the papal dominions.

In this dereliction of the pope, the moft fervent of his former adherents feemed, at this period, to agree without reluctance. So efficacious was either the dread, or the influence, of France over the